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FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – The Fort St. John Huskies hit the ice for Game 3 of their NWJHL playoff series against the Grande Prairie JDA Kings Thursday night.The Huskies are coming off a game where they held a 2-0 advantage in the first period, only to let it slip away midway through the third frame. The two teams have split the opening two games of the best-of-seven series.“It comes down to effort,” said General Manager Jeremy Clothier. “We have been stuck in the mud not moving our feet for the better part of the series so far. So if we can get our feet moving and skate then we will be fine. We have a very fast team when we are firing on all cylinders and that’s the team that we have to be tonight. Get back to the things that made us successful throughout the regular season.”Thursday’s Game 3 is set to get underway at 8:00 p.m. at the North Peace Arena.- Advertisement –read more

James Gist had 16 points and 10 rebounds, freshman Greivis Vasquez scored a season-high 18 and Maryland forced 17 turnovers in handing No. 16 Duke its most lopsided defeat of the season. The Terrapins (18-7, 4-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) trailed early before taking control with a 29-4 run in the first half, then used a late surge to hold off a comeback bid by the skidding Blue Devils (18-7, 5-6). COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, wasted no time in deciding the proper course to right his struggling team. “I’ll do whatever I can,” he said Sunday, moments after a 72-60 loss to Maryland. “I’m not going to punt, let’s put it that way.” Said Krzyzewski, “One thing you have to do when you’re a coach or a player is keep a positive attitude, prepare, fight and attempt to win the next time no matter what. We’ve been in that position coming off many wins over the years. Now we’re in that position coming off four straight losses.” The Blue Devils cut a 20-point deficit to 58-52 before Ekene Ibekwe and Mike Jones had two baskets apiece in a 10-2 spree that made it 68-54 with 3:33 left. That was enough to ensure the Terrapins an important victory in their bid to get back into the NCAA tournament after a two-year absence. “We’ve got no choices. We have to play hard,” Vasquez said. “We had to come out and beat Duke, and that’s what we did.” burdened with a four-game losing streak for the first time in 11 years, At Washington 64, No. 25 Stanford 52 Spencer Hawes scored 18 points and Jon Brockman added 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Huskies defeated the Cardinal. Washington (16-8, 6-7 Pac-10) kept its flickering NCAA tournament hopes alive by winning for the fifth time in six games. They have won nine of their last 10 home games against ranked teams. Stanford’s Lawrence Hill scored 15 points after missing all 10 of his shots in Thursday night’s loss at No. 14 Washington State. It wasn’t enough as the Cardinal (15-8, 7-5) lost for the third time in four games since beating then-No. 3 UCLA. 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! “They’re not going away,” Maryland coach Gary Williams said. “They have too much pride.” Josh McRoberts scored 20 points and Greg Paulus had 12 for Duke. The Blue Devils’ previous three losses were by a combined nine points, but this turned out to be Duke’s most lopsided ACC defeat since a 14-point loss to Wake Forest in February 2003. “Of the four games, the other three we had a chance to win,” Krzyzewski said. “This game, something a little more extraordinary had to happen for us to win.” Duke’s last four-game losing streak was from Jan. 3-13, 1996. “It doesn’t feel good,” Paulus said. “It’s not panic mode, but we have to get better. We’re not playing well enough. It’s that simple.” read more

“You can argue that, but nobody gets every call,” Malik said. Malik’s performance was somewhat overshadowed by Holiday’s game-high 38, which was expected since the junior guard is touted as one of the best prospects in the nation. Hofman couldn’t help but heap the praise on his go-to guy following Saturday’s performance. “Adam played one of the greatest performances in the history of the school,” Hofman said. “I thought he was the best player on the court today.” Saturday’s game, in most people’s estimation, was supposed to be one of the biggest blowouts of the day-long event. Instead, it turned out to be one of the day’s best games. La Ca ada, which some thought would be put away by halftime, actually led, 33-27, going into the locker room. The Spartans made up for committing 30 turnovers by out-rebounding the decidedly taller Vikings, 31-28. “We knew we were going to turn the ball over, that’s a great defensive team,” Hofman said. “Athletically, they’re as fast a team as we’re ever going to play. The key was to stop their transition, and that’s what I thought we did very well. “There was two things that was going to make this a blowout – them in transition and getting second shots. We did a good job.” aram.tolegian@sgvn.com (626) 962-8811, Ext. 2233 160Want local news?Sign up for the Localist and stay informed Something went wrong. Please try again.subscribeCongratulations! You’re all set! Vikings guard Jrue Holiday scored on a bank shot with just under a minute to play to put his team ahead, 59-57. La Ca ada had two possessions to answer, but both ended in turnovers. Holiday iced the game in the final seconds at the free-throw line to help Campbell Hall escape. “I’ve never been more proud of this team,” Spartans coach Tom Hofman said. “I don’t know what the line was on this game, but I know we weren’t supposed to get them in overtime. “I think we earned a lot of respect today, playing how hard we played. We’re definitely not losers, we just didn’t score as many points as Campbell Hall.” La Ca ada fell to 28-3, but definitely earned some credit as it hopes to secure a bid for next week’s state playoffs. Campbell Hall improved to 29-1. Senior Adam Malik put on a dazzling display with 31 points. He had a chance to win the game in regulation with eight seconds left and the game tied at 51. Malik got just inside the lane and got a shot off before being sent to the floor. The ball didn’t draw iron and Malik surprisingly didn’t draw a foul. ANAHEIM – Heavily favored Campbell Hall needed the final minute of overtime on Saturday to stave off a daring upset bid by La Ca ada High School’s boys basketball team in the CIF-Southern Section Division III-AA championship game at Honda Center. Campbell Hall, which had won its previous three playoff games by an average of 57 points, was taken to the brink of a monumental upset before finally scoring a 61-57 victory. read more

At a loss for something to do this Saturday?Why not join Donegal Daily’s resident gardening expert for a tour of the fabulous OakField Park in Raphoe.The gardens cover 100 acres are a treasure trove of horticultural beauty and interest. And what better way to learn more about the many plants that grow there than with our gardening guru Gareth Austin!The Tour starts at 3pm , lasts for a few hours and will take in the many spring delights in the walled garden and grounds.FANCY A TOUR OF OAKFIELD HOUSE WITH DONEGAL DAILY’S GARDENING EXPERT? was last modified: May 1st, 2015 by StephenShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:donegalGareth AustinOakfield HouseRaphoeread more

CHILD sex monster Michael Ferry was a youth club official for Foroige and also taught sex education and religion at Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair, it emerged today.Both positions pre-dated his sickening sex attacks while working as caretaker for Colaiste Cholmcille where he was re-hired as an odds job man after a previous conviction for child sex crimes.Foroige is understood to be examining files to see if the 55-year-old convicted sex abuser was a volunteer in the 1980s when the club was based in Derrybeg. Incredibly Colaiste Cholmcille, which runs Irish language summer courses at the building, has also admitted the former school caretaker helped with classes even after being found guilty in 2002 of abusing a child.Gardai have confirmed they are widening their investigation amid fears of a paedophile ring.Another alleged victim has come forward in recent days, claiming more than one perpetrator was targeting children in the Gaoth Dobhair area of west Donegal.Locals said the former Ard Scoil Mhuire building – where school caretaker Ferry raped and abused children for more than a decade – was the base for the Foroige youth club.Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty, who grew up beside the school which is owned and run by Colaiste Cholmcille said there was clearly a cause for concern.“While I never attended Foroige as I was too young at the time, it’s my understanding that Mickey Ferry was one of the participants and indeed leaders in the Foroige group at the time there,” he said.Foroige has confirmed it is trawling through records to establish if Ferry was connected to the youth movement.Donegaldaily.com can confirm he did work there as a volunteer. He also volunteered for the Order of Malta.As the HSE launch a range of services aimed at helping victims, it has also been revealed that Ferry – who raped five boys at the former Ardscoil Mhuire premises – actually taught in the area’s main secondary school in the mid-1980s.The former student priest, kicked out of Maynooth because of lewd sex acts, landed a substitute teacher’s job at Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair teaching religion and sex education.One former pupil said: “It makes my skin crawl now; to think he was preaching to us about religion and then a few years later he went on to carry out those attacks on those poor boys. It is sickening.”Gardai are launching a widespread investigation into claims that Ferry has dozens of other victims.There is massive support for the four young men who stood up to Ferry, crimes for which he was jailed for 14 years on Monday past.One of them Derek Mulligan (pictured above) has been singled out for praise for going public on the affair.REVEALED: FERRY TAUGHT SEX EDUCATION IN SCHOOL AND WORKED FOR YOUTH ORGANISATION was last modified: July 21st, 2011 by gregShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Tags:jailedMichael Ferrypaedophilesecondary schoolyouth clubread more

*Seniors*CLG BnaG v CarndonaghMoyle Park, Saturday @ 7.30pm The Seniors play their last home league game of the season this Saturday against a Carndonagh team currently rooted to the bottom of the table.Throw in time for the Seniors is at 7.30pm and there will be no Reserve game as Carndonagh do not field a team in the Reserve league. All support would be greatly appreciated*Senior Ladies* St Eunans v CLG BnaGO’Donnell Park, Sunday @ 11amAfter a brilliant win over St Eunans in the Senior Championship Preliminary Round first leg our Senior ladies will take them on in the return leg this Sunday morning. Throw in time in O’Donnell Park is 11am, please come along and support our Ladies*U14s*CLG BnaG 3-8 Burt 4-6The U14s suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Burt in the Shield Final two weeks ago in Glenswilly. In a pulsating encounter it was Burt who settled early racing into an early lead with some strong counter attacking play. Na Galloglaigh were to rue their first half wides tally getting into double figures leaving them 3-3 to 0-2 down at half time. The introduction of Luke McAteer along with some positional switches had the desired effect as the lads came out for the second half hitting 2-2 in the opening ten minutes to close the gap to 2 points. Burt then rallied to hit 3 unanswered points and with ten minutes remaining na Galloglaigh looked like their comeback was over. The impressive Conor Mc Hugh kept his side in the game with some expertly taken frees to close the gap to one point. Then Luke Mc Ateer, who had already het the net twice, collected the ball from his brother Gerard to hit a wonder goal from the 20m line to put na Galloglaigh in front with 2 minutes to go. Burt rallied and then managed to get a free 13m out and with men on the line Burt, with the last kick of the game, broke hearts as the free found the roof of the net. Credit must go to the lads and their determination and effort to claw their way back into a match that seemed gone from them at half time. Thank you to Glenswilly for the use of their facilities. *Training Schedules*Seniors/Reserves/U21s/Minors: Mon (8.30pm @ Crossfit LK), Tuesday & Thursday (7pm @ Pitch)Senior Ladies: (@ Pitch): Wednesday (7pm), Saturday (10am)Minors: (@ Pitch) Wednesday (4.30pm) G4M&O: (@ Pitch): Mondays (8pm)U16s: (@ Pitch): Mondays (6.30pm), Wednesdays (6.30pm)U14s: (@ Pitch): Tuesday (4.15pm), Friday (4.15pm)U12s: (@ Pitch) Thursdays (6pm)U12s (Mixed): (@ Pitch) Thursdays (6pm)Gaelic4Girls: (@ Pitch) Fridays (6pm)U10s: (@ Pitch): Fridays (7pm)U8s: (@ Pitch): Fridays (6pm)*Underage Coaching*Anyone interested in getting involved in the coaching of underage teams are asked to contact Shaun Paul Barrett on 086-6052169*2014 Membership*Club membership will be soon due for the 2014 year. Please be aware that Donegal tickets will only be sourced for paid up members of the Club. The rates remain unchanged from 2013:Family – €50Senior – €20U18 – €10Alternatively you can subscribe to the Club Lotto Database. For €17 a month you will receive:– Full Family membership– Entered into every weekly Lotto draw– Automatically in a Christmas Hamper Draw (For subscribers only)– 11 free weeks entry into the lottoFor more information contact Joe McNulty on 086-8547114*Lotto*This weeks lotto numbers were 1-2-19-23. No jackpot winner, 3 match 3 winners win €25 each. Fiona & Eddie Shiels, Deirdre O’Toole, and Pat Barrett. Next weeks Jackpot is €1,080.*Lotto Database*Lotto database players are reminded that end of year payments are now due. Anyone wishing to join the lotto database in 2014 can download the standing order form from the Club website or contact Joe McNulty. The benefits of joining the database are:– Full family membership for 2014 included– Entered into every draw evey week– Automatically in Christmas hamper draw (One for database members only)– 11 weeks free entry to lotto draw*Lucozade Sports Club Crusade*Thank you to all who helped with this years bottle cap collection, your support was much appreciated and we would ask that everyone continues to collect their bottle caps for next years collection.*Child Protection & ASAP Policies*CLG BnaG Child Protection and Welfare Policy & Procedures and CLG BnaG Alcohol and Substance Abuse (ASAP) prevention Policy information sessions have been held for all members of the club executive and all those involved with underage teams. There will be further information sessions for underage members and their parents/guardians following the next registration in 2014. Please visit the ‘downloads’ section of our website (Milford.Donegal.gaa.ie) and view the policy for yourself. If anyone has any queries or concerns or comments please contact the club Children’s Officer Marian McNulty at 086/8506405 or marian.mcnulty@lyit.ie*Volunteers Needed for Sub-Committees*CLG BnaG is currently in the process of creating Sub-Committees to help implement and achieve the targets of a 5 year plan. If you feel you can contribute to the running of the Club in any small way, either in time or in ideas, please contact MilfordDonegalGAA@gmail.com, 0863400082 or send a PM. The Sub-Committees are as follows:FinanceUnderage Games DevelopmentAdult Games DevelopmentClub AdministrationClub FacilitiesPR, Communication & Culture*Lotto Sellers Required*The Club is seeking lotto sellers in the Milford, Ramelton and Rathmullan areas. If you are interested contact Joe McNulty on 086-8547114*Evolution Fitness*All paid up club members will now be able to avail of a €10 discount on 3 month membership. Normal 3 month membership is €80 but will be available to members for €70. If interested contact Jack Duddy at Evolution Fitness beside the mart in Milford*Contact Us*For all information and queries contact MilfordDonegalGAA@Gmail.com, follow us on Twitter on @CLGBnaG, and on Facebook on www.facebook.com/clgbaile.nangalloglach or see our website www.milford.donegal.gaa.ie/*Milford GAA Club Gear*Club gear is now available to order. Anyone who has ordered club gear but yet received it are to contact either Aidan or Barry. The range of club gear includes Hoodies, Tracksuits tops, Windcheaters, hats, navy polo shirts, white polo shirts, and t-shirts. There is some lovely gear available at very reasonable prices and photos are available to view on the club Facebook page. Orders can be placed with Agnes Ryan on 086-8194751.GAA NEWS: MILFORD ENTERTAIN CARNDONAGH IN FINAL HOME LEAGUE GAME OF THE SEASON was last modified: July 22nd, 2014 by Mark ForkerShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Tags:GAAMilfordNoticesSportread more

Every Championship club’s best signing of the decade, including Taarabt and Dack Leeds lose at Fulham, West Brom held, Charlton’s winless run continues 2 ‘close’ Latest EFL news He has not featured in League One this season and a club statement on Wednesday read: “Sunderland AFC has given notice under its contract with Papy Djilobodji.”The statement continued: “Djilobodji, who was under contract to SAFC until June 2020, indicated in June 2018 that he wished to leave the club.“In order to facilitate that desire, the club entered into a written agreement with the player allowing him to spend the month of July on voluntary unpaid leave. Hull defender MacDonald given all-clear after battle with bowel cancer EFL result Orient chief gives update on manager search after ‘unfortunate’ Fletcher sacking Bannan penalty helps Sheffield Wednesday strengthen grip on play-off place CONFUSION Papy Djilobodji’s contract has been terminated by Sunderland after he failed to return on time from a period of leave then ‘comprehensively failed’ a fitness test.The 29-year-old former Chelsea player spent last season on loan at French side Dijon, following a disappointing 2016/17 campaign as the Black Cats were relegated from the Premier League. GREAT NEWS stalemate Cardiff and Preston play out stalemate in Championship early kick-off ROUND-UP Sunderland are considering taking similar action against Ndong impact Macclesfield set for further EFL sanctions after Plymouth match is called off goalless REPLY “When that period came to an end, the player was expected either to leave for a new club – having reached a deal satisfactory to himself and SAFC – or to return in shape to play professional football.“Instead, he returned to Sunderland over a month later, in the first week of September, ignoring written requests for his return. On his return, he was subjected to the same fitness test that his fellow professionals had undertaken on their return. He comprehensively failed that test.“As a result, Sunderland AFC can confirm that it has accepted Papy Djilobodji’s repudiatory breaches of contract and notice of the same has been provided to the player.” Djilobodji failed to secure a move away from Sunderland over the summer 2 Berahino hits back at b******t Johnson criticism – ‘I was in a dark place at Stoke’ Strugglers Wigan hold Blackburn to goalless draw in Championship Stewart Donald, the Sunderland owner, joined talkSPORT on Tuesday to reveal he was considering taking legal action against Djilobodji as well as Didier Ndong, the midfielder, who has still not returned to Wearside this season.read more

CLICK HERE if you are having a problem viewing the photos on a mobile deviceOAKLAND — The A’s extended their win streak to five games with a 9-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.Matt Chapman accounted for five of the runs, hitting a two-run single in the third inning and a two-run home run in the fifth. Chapman’s home run was his 22nd of the season.Related Articles … What A’s winter ball performances can tell us about the second base race

Guide to Performing Bulk Email Verification Tags:#NYT#twitter#web The Dos and Don’ts of Brand Awareness Videos Related Posts Facebook is Becoming Less Personal and More Pro… audrey watters The events in Egypt over the past few weeks have highlighted the important role that Twitter is taking in communicating and coordinating events of global significance. Indeed, over 70% of Twitter users come from outside the United States. And while English has been the service’s dominant language, the company does offer Twitter in six other languages: French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and Spanish.In order to help make Twitter more accessible to this growing global user-base, the company has just announced the Twitter Translation Center, an effort to crowdsource translations so that Twitter can quickly launch in additional languages.The efforts won’t be aimed at translating tweets, but rather at translating the product itself. (You can see the difference if you go to your settings page and change your language.)New languages added to the Translation Center, in addition to those already offered, include Indonesian, Russian and Turkish. Those are the languages into which Twitter will be translated next, and the company says there are more to come.Crowdsourced TranslationsCrowdsourcing translations isn’t new. Facebook is now available in over 70 languages, for example, thanks in part to the efforts of over 300,000 users who helped translate the site. And Twitter says it’s been using volunteer translators since October 2009. Crowdsourcing translation works by taking a word or phrase – such as “hashtag” or “Privacy Policy” – and asking for input and feedback on translations. The community then agrees on the best possible translation. You can sign up to help translate Twitter – its mobile and websites, its apps, its help and business centers. A Comprehensive Guide to a Content Auditread more

I sat in the front row of Nokia’s Windows Phone event in New York in September, watching Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his Nokia counterpart Stephen Elop clasp arms and smile for the crowd and present the Lumia 920. At the time, I thought to myself, “you know, this may be the phone that gets Nokia back in the game.”I reserve the right to change my mind. At first blush, Nokia’s new flagship Windows Phone was everything I had been looking for from a high-end Windows Phone. It has impressive Near Field Communications (NFC) features with its ability to transfer music from the device to a set of speakers or headphones. It has a wireless charging feature that works with a “pillow” or that same set of speakers. It has Nokia’s well-reviewed PureView camera technology with Carl Zeiss optics that rival any other smartphone in the business, including Apple’s iPhone 5 and anything from Samsung. Slap on a quality battery (non-removable, industry-competitive 2000 mAh) and I thought, “Nokia might be on to something here.”Ballmer (left) and Elop present the Nokia Lumia 920That was before I started playing with the Lumia 920. I have never been a fan on “unboxing” videos where bloggers film themselves opening a box of a new device and showing off what is inside. Yet, I kind of wish I had done so with the Lumia 920. The amount of cursing expressed in my first five minutes with the device would have made good cinema.First thought: “Damn, this thing is heavy.” Second thought: “Damn, this thing is freaking* blue.”Third thought: “Why the hell is it taking so long to start up?”Fourth, fifth, sixth thoughts: “I bloody hell hate how long and how many steps Microsoft puts your through to set up the device when you first turn it on.”Seventh thought: “Oh, Windows Phone, I want to like you and praise you for being different, but there is little actually simple, interesting or intuitive with Hubs and Tiles.”Eighth thought: “Wait? Where the hell is Spotify?”(*Note: I may have used a word stronger than “freaking.” Also, I have no choice in the color of review devices I am sent from Nokia. I am not a fan of blue. The Lumia 920 comes in a variety of colors including white, black, red, yellow and blue. I would have preferred red or black. I have not been able to confirm this (though not for want of asking people from Microsoft, Nokia or HTC … nobody seems to know or they just will not tell me) but I think the color scheme for Windows Phone devices is the brainchild of Microsoft, not Nokia. HTC’s Windows Phones also come in a variety of colors.)Let’s break down my list of curses.Carry The WeightWhen it comes to a smartphone, I am particularly sensitive to size, shape and weight. A smartphone is perhaps the most personal electronic device ever made. It travels everywhere you go, in your pocket or your bag, and if the size, shape or weight feel wrong, you won’t like it as much as you should. This is one reason why people have historically liked the iPhone and why Apple works so hard to make it slimmer and more streamlined. Apple fully understands the value of a device that “feels” good.For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Note II is a fine device, I just find its enormity awkward when the purpose is to be used as a phone . At least the Note II is thin and light despite its gargantuan 5.55-inch screen. The Lumia 920 is neither thin nor light. If you are attempting to switch to the 920 from most Android devices or an iPhone, you are definitely going to notice the bulk.Left to right: Galaxy Note II, Nokia Lumia 920, HTC One XAt 185 grams, (about 6.5 ounces), the Lumia 920 is 73 grams heavier than the iPhone 5 (112 grams – about 3.9 ounces). Despite having a screen a little more than an inch smaller than the Note II (4.5 inches for against 5.55 inches), the Lumia 920 weighs five grams more. The Samsung Galaxy S 3 is considerably lighter, too, at about 133 grams (4.7 ounces). Releasing a device that is noticeably bulkier than the iPhone 5 or the latest Galaxy flagships is not a very good way to compete with Apple and Samsung. Worse, Lumia line keeps getting bigger, not smaller. The original Lumia 800, announced in October 2011, was a joy to hold. It had a little heft to it but the body was sleek and pleasant. The Lumia 900, released in April 2012, was bigger but did not feel quite as cumbersome as the 920. The 920 is essentially the Lumia 900 on steroids. It is hard to tell exactly why the Lumia 920 is so heavy other than to note all the hardware upgrades it includes. Wireless charging, bigger battery, advanced NFC capability, the PureView technology, et al. likely added up to a bigger, heavier body. Top to bottom: HTC One X, Nokia Lumia 920, Samsung Galaxy Note IIWindows Phone 8 Microsoft is spending a large fortune on its marketing for Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Windows RT. For Windows Phone 8, Microsoft touts its simplicity and easy-to-understand interface.I call shenanigans. On the surface (no pun intended), Windows Phone 8 is simple. Everything you might like to use is pre-loaded on the home screen in the form of Live Tiles. Really, this is little different from any other modern smartphone, including the iPhone or any Android device – with the exception that Live Tiles can show you information on what’s going on in the app they represent even before you open them.If you are switching from iOS or Android, though, Windows Phone is going take some time to figure out.The first hurdle with Windows Phone (be it version 8 or anything that came before) is that you are going to have to go through a significant amount of steps before you even use the device. Things are only a little easier if you have an @live.com account from Microsoft. These set-up wizards are classic Microsoft – and a touch infuriating. No other mobile operating system makes you jump through so many hoops just to get going (Android is the simplest of the group, with all of your data imported to your device once you sign into your Google account). When you finally reach the home screen, the now-familiar Hubs and Tiles are presented, replete with a selection of bloatware from both AT&T and Nokia. Many tiles are self explanatory, such as the phone icon, Internet Explorer and email. But not all the tiles have clear definitions. For instance, the “People” tile is essentially your contacts list turned into an app. It can import all your Facebook, Twitter and phone contacts and then update with pictures of those people.Somehow, though, Microsoft has managed to complicate what should be simple. Microsoft has essentially created a unified contacts “app” (or Hub, as Microsoft prefers) with all of your disparate contacts in one place. Perhaps this is a conceptual problem for me, but I do not want my Facebook friends in my contact list by default. But if you want to use Facebook on your Windows Phone, those contacts are going to be in there. If find it cumbersome and annoying. The Messages (not including email) tile is similarly complex – it incorporates SMS, Facebook Chat and instant messaging into a single space. There is value to a single messaging inbox, but the Windows Phone version is confusing. And you don’t get a choice whether you’d prefer a distinct SMS app instead of all of your messages in one spot regardless of where they come from? As for me, I’d be happier with a simple dedicated chat app, a dedicated SMS app and so on. Users will have to explore the rest of the pre-installed tiles individually to see what they do – and many of them make you jump through hoops for sign-in and permissions that are often difficult to comprehend. Paucity Of Apps & Design Decisions Windows Phone 8 also continues Microsoft’s tradition of poor design for its native apps. Smartphones, by their very nature, have limited screen space. Mobile app design experts know to optimize their apps’ most important aspects while marginalizing (hopefully in a stylish way) less vital features. Microsoft seems to miss the boat here. For instance, look at the Microsoft Office app for Windows Phone 8. Note that the header of the app says “Office” in big red letters. The bottom has a gray bar with a search icon and a folder and the settings button. An app designer I know looked at that and said, “why the heck is Microsoft wasting all this space with the header and footer?” Issues like that crop up in many of Microsoft’s own apps.Beyond the problems with Windows Phone 8’s built-in apps, the bigger issue is Windows Phone’s lack of third-party apps, and it’s even worse in WIndows Phone 8. Apps built for Windows Phone 7/7.5 have to be specifically updated to even function in the Windows Phone 8 operating system. This makes it much easier for developers to build apps that will work across Windows 8/RT/Phone but it causes problems Windows Phone 8 users right now. Take the Facebook app, which was built by Microsoft … not Facebook. No surprise that the Newsfeed is marginalized in the center panel while the header gets prominent display. Worse, Windows Phone 8 is still missing some of my go-to apps. When I try a new device, the first thing I do is download the apps I use every day. So where is Spotify for Windows Phone 8? Where is Instagram? Path? Pandora? Flipboard? If I am forced to Microsoft’s and Nokia’s own set of services instead of the industry leading choicess, I am not going to be a happy camper. Grade: IncompleteThere are plenty of quality aspects to the Lumia 920. The PureView camera, NFC capabilities, a quality and responsive screen that rivals the iPhone for clarity, Nokia Maps (yes, Nokia does maps well), the concept of Hubs and Live Tiles and so on. The problem is a matter of execution. Good ideas, like the various hardware improvements to the Lumia series and the software improvements to Windows Phone, feel… incomplete. Microsoft and Nokia seem to have entered into a feature war with Android and Apple. They manage to win occassional skirmishes over particular features, but overall they are losing the fight. The Rise and Rise of Mobile Payment Technology dan rowinski Tags:#Nokia#Windows Phone What it Takes to Build a Highly Secure FinTech … Related Posts Why IoT Apps are Eating Device Interfaces Role of Mobile App Analytics In-App Engagementread more